At the meeting, the Lithuanian leader emphasized that “synchronization of the positions” of the Western Balkans with the EU’s foreign and security policy is necessary for closer cooperation.
G. Nausėda called on the leaders of the Western Balkan countries to implement the EU sanctions once morest Russia and Belarus and to prevent the circumvention of the sanctions.
“If we want peace and stability in Europe, we have to support Ukraine with all our power. If Russia’s aggression in Ukraine is not stopped, Europe will face new attempts by Russia to ignite conflicts and incite discord in neighboring countries, including the Western Balkans,” said the President of Lithuania, quoted in the report.
Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia have started negotiations for EU membership.
At the time, Bosnia and Herzegovina was granted candidate status in 2022, but this November it did not receive a favorable recommendation from the European Commission regarding the start of negotiations.
The least advanced on this path is Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008.
G. Nausėda emphasized the importance of EU expansion for the well-being of Europe as a whole and emphasized that Lithuania supports the expansion process to the countries of the Western Balkans, based on the implementation of reforms, especially in the areas of the fight once morest corruption, the rule of law, and the independence of the courts.
According to the president, the promotion of regional cooperation and good relations between the countries of the Western Balkans remain important.
He called on Serbia and Kosovo to seek de-escalation of tensions and return to constructive dialogue.
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2024-07-20 01:04:44
